Engine frame



Oct. 4, 1932. A. G. BUWALDA ENGINE FRAME Filed April 13,1951

Patented oct. 4, 1932 ABRAHAM Q ,.B'UWALDA, or PELLA,IoWA, AssIGNoR To Woonnow WASHINGMACHINE Y COMPANY, or PELLA; IOWA, A vCORPORATION or IowA A Application-mea April 13,

- The objectvofmy invention isito provide a simple, durable and inexpensive frame constructionadapted Vto brace the Alower ends ofvwashi'ngmachine legs, and atv the same time provide improved means for supporting an engine of the internal combustion type, in such a manner that the engine may be easily f and quickly yremoved when so desired, and

. Figure 1 is engine frame;

to decrease the vibration ot "the washing machine to whichl the bracingtrame is'con-` nected.

parts of the device,`whereby the objects 'con-V templated are attained, ashereinaiter more fully setvfortli, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in whichz..

a plan'view of my improved Figure 2 is a front elevation of same.

Figure. 3 is a sideelevation of my improved frame. 1V

Figure 4 is an enlarged, detail, `sectional view :taken on the `line4--4 of Figure 1.

Figure y5fis an'enlargedydetail, sectionalV i vew taken on the line 5-5"of1Figure'l.v

Figure@ is a detail sectional'view taken on ythe line 6-6 of Figure 1. Y FigureTisa bottom view ofthe means for detachably mounting the inner end of the engine trame with the main frame.

. Referring to the accompanying drawing,

, Ihave used the reference rnumeral lOto indicate the legs of av washing machine tub,

the upper portion ot thelegs 'and tub being broken away and ynot illustrated inasmuch as theyform no part of my present invention". The legs' 10-.are preferably formed of angu- Vlarp sheet metal and have theirglower ends Vbraced by means of a horizontally arranged trame v11-formed'substantially triangular and having sidezmembersf 12 and a front 'member 1931. Serial Nol 529,880.

13. The angles 12 are connected neartheir central portions by means of an angle iron 14 having an upwardly extending flange 15. The angle 144 is parallel with the front members 13. The front members 13 are formed comparatively short so that a space 16 is provided between the inner ends of th members 13. The innerends of said members 13 are connected to angle irons 17 which are eX- ktended rearwardly, having their rear ends connected to the inner surface of the angle 14 bymeans ot bolts or'rivets 18. The angles 12 and 13 are permanently iXed to the lower ends oit' the leg members 10. Said trame 11 is carried by suitable casters 19.

By this construction it will be seen that a recess 2O is formed in the front side of the trame member in which an engine trame or base 21 is mounted. Said base 21 supports the ordinary internal combustion engine 22, such as employed for operating washing machines.

Connected beneath the front edge of the base 21 is a bar 23, said bar being permanently Xed to the base. Near each end of the bar 23 is a caster Vcup 24 for receiving the stem .25 of a caster 26. By this arrangement it will be seen that the front end of the engine is mounted on caster wheels which rest on the floor. The weightof the front end of the engine is carried thereby.

-The back end of the engine base is provided with apairot rearwardly projecting arms 27 provided with slots 28, each slot being designed to receive an upwardly'projecting boltf29 having a washer 30 below the member 27 and a washer 31 above the member 27.

' Each bolt 29 projects upwardly through an opening 32 in the frame member 14. A spring 3 3 is supported on the washer 31 and beneath the trame member 14, while a spring 34 rests on the upper face of the horizontal rflange of the member 14 and beneath a washer v35, which rests against the nut 36 carried by the upperendof the bolt. i f I ABy this arangement it will be seen that yieldabler pressure is applied to the washers 30 and 31 tendingvto close them together, and

provides means for trictionally retaining the 'f UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE y A' forward pressure to the rearendv of the en- "2.1i, Vj

members 27 vin position. The weight'of theV rear end of the base 21 is carried by the upper spring 34, while the spring 33 deadens Y is'appliedrto'the pulley n37.

any upwardvmovements ofthe rear end of the engine base. Y

, By this arrangement itV will beV 'seenthatl the engine base maybe easily detached by;

simply moving, the base forwardly, causing the membersv27 to be disengaged from be-A tween'the washers 30 and 31. The edges of said washers are`v turned outwardly to permit the members 27k to be forced vinto position between said washersfby simply moving theY engine base rearwardly, said:.enginefbarse bei-v vingvpheld tov its rearward position of movement by the tension ofvthe drivingbeltwhich A yieldable belt tightener is ymounted on the back face of the flange 15. Said tightener comprises a bar 38 having one end bent 'forwardly and designed to engage the rear face of said flange. Theother end of said bar 38 is provided Vwith 'a forwardly extending; pin 39 which projects through an' opening in the .flange and engages the rear edge ofthe enginej' base*` A bolt 40 is` mounted in said lflange and projects vrearwardly through the A Ybar 38 and provided with a spring 41, which Y endof said' bolt is screw'threaded intothe member 43; The spring 44 is of` such length casters 26 on the supported. f i A. i j, Y* Y' 'jThe head of the Ybolt-47'sivijnports the Vmem-V J [moved f VThe members`43 are 'frictioiially reis held in position on the bolt 40-bymeans Vof a nut 42.k r.Ihe spring 41 applies Vyieldable gineA frame.

`Supported 'onithe upper surface of each 1 Y end ofthe bar 23' is av spring supporting lug i jV i l" upper end ofthe spring'44e'ngage`s the under surface of a bracket carried by theVV inner 43 on which aspring44issupported. The

en d -of the framel members 13. The 'said bracket 45 'is'fprovided with an opening 46 in which azboltr 47 is mounted. The lower andi tension Vthat downward pressure-is imi parted to the member 43and to vthebar 23,V thereby yieldablyloading the forward end of the engine base to prevent chatteringA of the iioor. .o n'uwhich the `base` is bers-43when" the frame member 2 3-is;re-

. tainedy on the/top surface'of the member 23 to'permit `the said'base 21' to be adjusted for'- wardly to imaintain'a 'constant Abelt pressure.

fi Thus it'will'beseenthatIhave provided a supporting frame for an internal combustion 'engine' ofthe 'vertical'V type, which is secon Y stri'i'ctedthat:thegeng'ine basemay bee'asily .0 and-quickly removed Vfrom the" main frame 5 member'for repairs orV for using the engine' f or other power purposes, and'at the same time -I have provided means whe'reliyV the f ,engine base `willfbe supported in' operative f. jr relation with the' washing' machine Yframe, :andr whereby all excessive.' vibration is elimig nated' fromV thewashing machine, which is particularly desirable in the modern wash-v ing machine constructions in whichthe washing machinetub and legs are formed of comparativelylight sheet metal, ofV which there isfnotv sufficient. weight to steady the ordinary internal combustion engine.

I claim asmy invention: v

Vl.w Ina device lof the class described, theV combinationV of a supporting frame'. having one side formed with arecess, an engine base withinusaid recess, casters Vsupporting the 'buter end of said engine base, means carried" byl said"V frame forfyieldably supporting the inner end of saidengine base against upward andv vdownward movement; and meansl car l ried by the'frame for yieldably' applying downward pressure toV thefouter end of said enginebase.` f Y. 2.*In a device ofthe class described, the

combination of 4a ,supporting frame havingV one sidek formed with a recess, an engine basek within said recess,"ca`s'ters supporting the outer end .of said engine base, means carried by said frame for' yieldably supporting the i inner end of said engine base against Vupward the'opposite endof said engine base to said frame, 1 and Ymeans for applying" yieldable downward pressurerto the caster supporting end of said engine base from said frame.'

A 4.. Ina device of the'class desoribed`the combination of a substantiallytriangularly shaped frame memberhaving one side provided with a recess comprising inwardly projecting frame members and a transversely ar-v ranged frame member," an engine base supported within said'recess,inwardly projecting beneathjsaid V'transversely arranged frame member,l springs above and; Vbellow "said inwardly proj ecting arms, a bolt for 4carrying -said'armsfrom the upper springs, casters Ysupporting the outer endof saidenginebase,

and means carried bythe frame members ad- 'jacent to the outer endof saidengine basefor applying *yieldablev downwardV pressure to the outerl end of said engine'base.V f

5; In a device of `the class described, the,

combination of 'a substantially triangularly shapedv frame member havingl one sidevpro` vided with a recess comprising inwardly pro-k jeotingframemembers andy a transversely 'arf ranged framemember, an engine base'` Vsupported within; saidrecess, inwardly'project'- ing `arms carriedby Asaidiengine,bases/upf.V

' arms carriedby said'enginegbasesupported ported beneath said transversely arranged frame member, springs above and below said inwardly projecting arms,l a bolt for carrying said arms from the upper springs, and

casters supporting the outer end of said engine base.

6. ln a'device ofthe class described, the combination of a supporting iframe,V an en gine base within the frame, casters supporting onefend of said engine base,rmeans for yieldably supporting the opposite end of said engine base to said frame, and means for applying yieldable downward pressure to the caster supporting end of said engine base from said frame.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination of a supporting frame having one side formed with a recess, an engine base within said recess, casters supporting the outer end of said engine base, means carried by said frame for yieldably supporting the inner endk of said engine base, and means for movingthe said 'engine base inwardly and outwardly relative to'said supporting frame.

ABRAHAM G. BUWALDA.

estV 

